Course syllabus for Urban spaces

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-17 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameStadsrum
  • CodeARK513
  • Credits12 Credits
  • OwnerTKARK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 12 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 45121
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0119 Project 12 c
Grading: UG		 12 c

In programmes

Examiner

Go to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

At least 60 university credits in Years 1 and 2 of the Architecture program, or equivalent work from comparable architecture or design education. 
Swedish.

Aim

The aim of this course is to give basic knowledge and skills concerning design of urban space in different types of cities and settlements, and for studentr to build up their own bank of references of different sorts of urban spaces. The work focuses on design and analysis of urban environments based on the basic morphological elements: street, space and building, and how these can be varied and combined to different urban typologies and urban environments with different characters.

The course treats:
  • The scale, proportions, denisty, configurations and contents of urban spaces through laborations and analyses
  • The theoretical and practical aspects of urban design and how these are balanced in practice
  • The interplay between people and urban spaces
  • How urban spaces have been designed through different ideologies and historic eras
  • How society balance private and public interests through legal planning procedures based on the planning and building act

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Apply different methods to characterise and analyse qualities of different sorts of urban spacees.
  • Account for theoretical points of departure for urban design and planning as well as historic and present ideals that influence the design of urban spaces
  • Apply and argue for appropriate dimensions and proportions of the morphological elements that create urban spaces
  • Compile, present and account for description, analyses and design in legible and convincing ways
  • Account for the basics of the Swedish planning and building act

Content

The course is built up around a series of thematic laborations of urban spaces. Each student compiles her or his own sketchbook with assignments and urban space references from field trips and desk top studies.

Organisation

The course is built up on three intertwined parts:
  1. Analyses of urban spaces in different areas in Gothenburg.
  2. Studies of urban theories based on the analyses, lectures, desktop studies and the field trip.
  3. A series of spatial investigations of the basic urban morphological elements: streets, open spaces and buildings and urban spaces.

Literature

A compendium with a selection of texts and a reading list with reference litterature will be provided at the start of the course.

Examination including compulsory elements

Requirements to pass:
  • Approved assignments and sketches
  • Complete sketchbook
  • Active participation at supervision and crits
If the result is not considered as a pass in the course, then supplementation must be completed in accordance to written instructions and assessed in the next subsequent re-examination period. If this primary supplementation does not result in a pass and further supplementation is then required, this will also be notified in writing. This secondary supplementation will be assessed in the subsequent re-examination period. If the additions are then not deemed sufficient for passing the course, the course should be retaken.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.